(from GM Press
Release) A Chevrolet SSR will
perform pace duties for the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway on
Sunday, Feb. 27, and continue those duties for a total of 20 NASCAR
NEXTEL Cup races this season. This weekend will be the first time
the Chevy SSR, a unique blend of an open-air roadster with pick-up
truck functionality, will pace the field during the 2005 race
season.

"The Chevrolet SSR pace vehicle makes a bold statement on the
track-just like our Chevy NASCAR drivers," said Brent Dewar,
Chevrolet general manager. "Pacing the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series
provides a good opportunity to showcase the unique style and
performance of the SSR, which now offers 390 horsepower."

The 2005 Chevy SSR pace vehicle has a four-color paint scheme with a
"Sling Shot Yellow" nose blending into hot orange and "Torch Red"
racing flames throughout the body and ultimately transitioning to a
"Kinetic Blue" truck bed. The event logo for each race will be
featured on both door panels with a red Chevy bowtie displayed on
the hood.

The Chevy SSR pacing the field is nearly identical to the vehicles
available in dealer showrooms. The production version of the 2005
Chevy SSR offers a new 6.0-liter LS2 small-block V-8 engine with 390
horsepower and the option of a six-speed manual transmission, which
delivers a 0-60 mph time of 5.29 seconds. The SSR includes the
standard one-button, power-operated retractable hardtop that stows
vertically and out of sight in its own compartment without reducing
cargo carrying capacity. The 2005 SSR starts at $42,555.

As the Official Pace Vehicle of NASCAR, Chevrolet will perform pace
duties for 60 NASCAR events in 2005, including 28 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup,
17 Busch Series and 15 Craftsman Truck Series races, featuring
vehicles such as Corvette, Monte Carlo and Silverado.